DURHAM, N.C. — The Baylor Bears women’s basketball showed resilience when it mattered most, rallying late to defeat the Nebraska Cornhuskers women’s basketball 67-62 in the opening round of the NCAA Women’s Tournament.
Taliah Scott led Baylor with 15 points, helping spark a fourth-quarter comeback after the Bears trailed by nine early in the final period. Down 50-41 with just over nine minutes remaining, Baylor turned up its defensive pressure, forcing multiple turnovers and shifting the momentum.
The Bears capitalized at the free-throw line, converting 11 of 14 attempts down the stretch to secure the win.
A pivotal moment came with under four minutes to play in a tie game. After a physical play under the basket, Baylor successfully challenged for a flagrant foul against Jessica Petrie, giving them both possession and free throws. Scott knocked down two key shots from the line, and Petrie fouled out shortly after, further tilting the game in Baylor’s favor.
Darianna Littlepage-Buggs added 13 points for Baylor, while Jana Van Gytenbeek chipped in 12, including two crucial three-pointers in the second half.
Nebraska was led by Britt Prince, who delivered a standout performance with 27 points. Despite the effort, the Cornhuskers couldn’t hold onto their lead late, falling short after pushing for a deep tournament run following their First Four victory.
With the win, Baylor advances to face the Duke Blue Devils women’s basketball in the next round. The matchup will be a rematch of their season opener, which Baylor narrowly won earlier in the year.
For Nebraska, the loss ends a strong season but also sets the stage for future goals, as the program looks to take the next step and host NCAA Tournament games moving forward.
